TCI HASN'T ANNOUNCED RATE HIKE HERE

A story in Monday's Missourian concerning cable television in Chaffee implied cable rates would be going up in Cape Girardeau in January.

Roger Harms, manager of TCI of Cape Girardeau, said the confusion may have arisen over the fact that TCI of Illinois has announced it will increase cable rates after the first of the year.

"At this time, TCI of Cape Girardeau has not announced any increase in basic subscriber rates, although we cannot rule out that possibility later in the year," Harms said.

Harms said there will be a 45-cent increase for TCI Cape Girardeau subscribers to Home Box Office, which takes effect in January. He said the increase is a pass-down charge from HBO to all cable operators.

Harms explained that although TCI of Cape Girardeau is a part of the TCI cable company, local TCI cable operators set their own local cable rates, based on local operating and program costs.